Event Details
The pilot-in-command advised acquaintances that he intended to fly over their residence on the afternoon of the accident. According to witnesses, the aircraft was observed flying low and in a left turn just before it crashed. The subsequent investigation focused on a 210-foot-high, marked radio tower situated within one mile of the acquaintances' residence.
Witness Observations
Multiple witnesses reported that the aircraft was flying at a low altitude and executing a left turn immediately prior to the accident. The aircraft's flight path was consistent with a low-level maneuver near the tower.
Wreckage and Impact Examination
The wreckage distribution was oriented along a 180-degree bearing line, extending 635 to 650 feet south of the radio tower. An examination of impact damage on the tower and the aircraft revealed that the left wing leading edge struck the tower at a point 20 feet below its top. This collision caused the outboard section of the left wing to separate from the aircraft. The separated wing section was found approximately 113 feet south southwest of the tower base. The tower, standing 210 feet high, was marked and had been in place prior to the accident.